Compare towns
Deerfield vs Wakefield vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Milton has the most renters (13.7% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Deerfield | Wakefield | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932 |
5,405Highest |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
| Wakefield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wakefield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Deerfield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kHighest 5% above NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Highest 7% above NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
| Deerfield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369Highest 11% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 minLowest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Wakefield School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.